PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. BEKASI - The Bekasi District Government (Pemdakab) held an activity to hand over 52 units of water pumps to farmer groups from 44 villages and 21 sub-districts.

The handover was symbolically given directly by the Acting Regent of Bekasi Dani Ramdan together with Danrem 051/Wijayakarta Brigadier General Riyanto and representatives of the Directorate General of Agriculture which took place at the Alsinta Warehouse, Karangsambung Village, Bekasi Regency, Friday (17/5/2024).

The water pump assistance came from the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities, Ministry of Agriculture. With details of 52 units consisting of 25 units of 3 inch water pumps, 20 units of 4 inch water pumps and 7 units of 6 inch water pumps.

In his speech, Dani said that Bekasi Regency is currently still under threat of food insecurity. One of the triggering factors is the impact of climate change and world geopolitical conditions as well as the threat of future impacts of climate change.

"Therefore, efforts are needed to maintain and continue to try to provide food needs, one of which is by increasing the area of food crop commodities," he said.

Dani added, this effort can be done by utilizing existing resources, such as optimizing land and pumping and expanding planting areas.

"This water pump assistance is a form of government attention in its efforts to meet needs and contribute to national food availability," he said.

Dani hopes that this water pump assistance can be utilized as well as possible for agricultural needs so that it can increase the additional planting area. And can exceed the targets of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Danrem 051/Wijayakarta Brigadier General Riyanto said that the water pump assistance was a positive step so it was hoped that it could be a driving force to increase food production in Bekasi Regency.

"Farmers don't need to hesitate, farmers have become heroes for preparing food sources. Therefore, let's encourage them together and I even motivate them by giving examples of making breakthroughs. So that the culture of farming can be enthusiastic so that food products in Bekasi Regency will be continues to increase," he said.

He hopes that with the assistance of water pumps from the Directorate General of Agriculture, he can increase planting intensity (IP) in Bekasi Regency.

"We hope that if we can get IP from 100 and 200 it can become 400 so that our food needs, especially rice or other commodities, will increase," he said.

Secretary of the Agriculture Service, Nayu Kulsum, added that the recipients of this water pump assistance were farmer groups that had the potential to increase planting intensity (IP), consisting of 52 farmer groups from 44 villages and 21 sub-districts throughout Bekasi Regency.

"Based on the realization of the additional planting area that has been implemented starting from pumping, this has reached 8,163 hectares of the target of 4,964 HA or 164 percent of the target," he said.